I left out the "Friends" chat, and some other non-UM sports related topics, and captured the questions and moderator responses. Sorry if I missed anything, but hopefully this is helpful for some of you.
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Next commit predictions for football & basketball?
· I'm going with Joe Girard III for hoops.
· DJ Turner has a commitment date set for June 25th, and could be the next to fall. June 22nd is Michigan's big official visit weekend, so that could produce some good things.
If football is coming off of a subpar season but expecting a strong year this year, does it make any sense not to necessarily accept too many commitments at this stage prior to proving it on the field?
· I think they take anybody they really want whenever they can get them.
1 - are there any legimate competitors for the starting safety spots after Tyree K and Josh M?
2 - what roles do you see for McDoom and Crawford this year? I didn’t hear Crawford’s name ONCE from McE or Roundtree in all their interviews and McDoom only maybe once. Maybe that’s a function of the questions being asked, but I don’t know.
3 - after Iggy (my speculation) which B.B. freshman gets the most minutes next year? DDJ or Johns?
I think Tyree and Josh have those spots about all locked up. I think the sophs have passed up the juniors, and I'd be surprised if there were a big role for Kekoa, especially. And I'm going with Johns, but not by a lot. I think Nunez is the only one who redshirts.
1. Absolutely. Casey Hughes, the transfer from Utah. J'Marick Woods could give those guys a run for their money too.
2. Honestly, I'm not expecting much from either one. DPJ, Black, Collins and Perry will be 'the guys' at the position, and McDoom and Crawford will likely be behind all of them.
3. This is a tough one. DeJulius, barely edging out Johns.
1. Casey Hughes and maybe JKP or Woods, but I'd expect Kinnel and Metellus to start
2. None for either
3. Johns
2. the way Harbaugh talked about Oliver Martin's spring, I wouldn't be shocked if he pushes Perry at slot.
- Good call, I forgot about him. The talent at wide receiver is unbelievable.
- I'd say the potential is unbelievable. The talent is still unproven ... but you're right to be optimistic.
Personally, i think there's usually "legit" contenders. I think someone like Case Hughes is a "legit" contender, but in the end word from the coaches tells me at this point that Kinnel and Metellus are definitely the two favorites. They haven't said that explicitly, but i'm reading between the lines.
Softball questions: 1. Do you expect better hitting next year and why? 2. Will Michigan find a #2 pitcher to complement Beaubien?
· I really don't know. I'm sure they'll try, but I really don't know.
Is Michigan going to Win the Big 10 East this season?
· I think they'll be really, really good, but my gut still tells me no. It's so hard not to pick Ohio State.
· Yes.
· I'm going with Michigan. It's time.
· If they beat OSU they will
Which recruit is the best prospect to be a Heisman Trophy contender?
· In the '19 class? Cade McNamara.
knowing that shea is a great talent, how effective do you see him in our offense? ole miss offense is super qb friendly. similar to texas tech, a&m, baylor etc..
· They'll tailor the offense to his strengths. He was really coming on at the end of spring. They're not going to go all run and shoot, but they'll put him in positions in which he can excel.
· I think he'll be completely fine, but I urge all fans to watch his play on youtube. You can find every snap there, and it's not as glamorous as his highlights (obviously). But what I'm saying is his highlights definitely hide a great deal of flaws he had last season. I don't think our offense will be any more of an issue than at OM though.
· Michigan will need to simplify
do you see james hudson surpassing JBB at left tackle?
· My prediction would be no, but it's certainly a possibility.
· I think it's very possible ... eventually. Will he by the first game? I don't know. That position is such a wildcard at this point.
· Tackle might just be the biggest question mark on the whole team — my gut is telling me JBB and Runyan could wind up being the starters.
· Personally, my gut says he's on the bench week 1. JBB and Runyan are starting at the tackles spots as of today. I personally feel like U-M will be comfortable starting the season with those older guys, that they believe are solid.
· Not for the season opener, but maybe during the season
What does Michigan have to do between now and September to prepare for the opener in South Bend? What are a couple of keys to a victory?
· Strengthen the left tackle position somehow ... lots of technique work, etc.
· No turnovers. Run the ball enough to keep ND's defense honest. Don't let the quarterback escape on passing downs.
· Make sure the O-line is as good as it can get
is there any reasonable chance that jalen mayfield comes in and competes for starting tackle spot?
· Not in my opinion. But I think he'll be a good one, in time.
Gil, ross, or singleton at the open linebacker spot??
· Last word from Don Brown was that Josh Ross and Devin Gil were competing to replace Mike McCray. I think many, including myself, believe that Ross may win the job. But that, in my opinion, doesn't mean that Gil won't see any snaps.
· I'm really thinking Ross.
· I think Ross gets the nod to start.
· Ross
Who are our future Vipers? Worried if Hudson leaves after this year.
· I think Hudson will be gone ..... and I could see Brad Hawkins potentially moving back down there. If Lance Dixon commits, he'll be another strong possibility.
When should we hear Charles Matthews' decision?
· He has a few more workouts yet. He's been banged up. It won't be long ... we think he comes back.
· Before may 30th
Any word on Don Brown mixing in a bit of zone to keep offenses off balance?
· With a veteran D backfield, even 5-10% would keep offenses honest and probably force a few turnovers.
· He wouldn't give specifics in Paris, but Brown said "there are a lot of things you can do to give those guys some help" ... I would think some zone would be among the options, but he is never going to abandon his philosophy ... to pressure and force quarterbacks to make plays while uncomfortable.
Do you see Michigan getting Carton and Wilson?
· No. I think they could land Carton, but some talk like it's a slam dunk ... I don't think it is. He'd be a great get.
· Wilson, the longer it goes, the less I like their chances.
· I think they have a strong shot with Carton ..... not as much with Wilson.
· Probably one or the other
Do you think this will be our best running attack we have seen in several years?
· Since Denard, yes.
· Definitely. Higdon, combined with out interior OL could be very good. Tackles should be improved as well, we'll see.
· Probably. Sadly, that's not saying much though.
· Yes
How are the new offensive staff (McElwain/Warriner/Moore) jelling with the Harbaugh/Hamilton group?
· Very well. That's a really tight staff. You could see it in Paris.
· So far so good
I love Brown’s defense. But that one wrinkle could really catapult the defense to elite. The good OCs and QBs were able to find the weak link in coverage (Kinnel vs OSU and psu) and exploit it.
5-10 percent could make all of the difference, especially with his blitz packages.
· I'll be honest ... I'm not sure he shares that opinion. And the numbers would suggest they were already pretty close to elite.
But I expect this defense to be lights out, and I trust that he'll do what he feels what's best ... not what he believes a segment of the fan base believes is popular. The 'play more zone' narrative has taken on a life of its own, and I'm not sure where it started (and I'm not coming down on you at all. But when I asked him that question in Tampa during practice, he said, "I don't care" (what people think).
Who do you see as the starting 5 next year in hoops?
· Zavier Simpson, Jordan Poole, Charles Matthews, Isaiah Livers and Jon Teske, to start.
But I think Iggy could be in the starting lineup midway through the year. He could play 2, 3 or 4.
Livers needs to step it up ... and I love the kid and think he can.
· Not out of the question that Poole would leave if he had a huge year. They know they have to be prepared for all possibilities.
· Simpson, Poole, Matthews, Livers, Teske
Do they finally get an elite RB commit? What happened to Jay becoming the next great recruiter?
· Some people would argue that Christian Turner can be that guy. Not denying his rankings, but some are very high on him. I'm one of them. And as for going forward, the answer is... win. Winning does the recruiting itself. Need to win first.
Will we see more rotation on the DL? As good as Gary and Winovich are, they’d be more effective if they were fresh. Paye, Vilain, and others have experience now.
· Vilain doesn't really have experience, as he was hurt last season and got hurt again this spring. but yes Mattison did suggest that they feel comfortable rotating a plethora of guys again this coming season. Interior should be at least 4 deep by all accounts too.
· Yes. Kwity is showing he's more than just a third down option, for one.
· Paye will get rotated in
Will Michigan beat ND?
· Yes. By eight.
· Yes... No doubt at all. None.
· Yes
If Matthews comes back as expected, are they favored to win the B1G?
· They'll be right there. Maryland could be a popular pick (if Fernando and Huerter come back), and MSU will be right there as well.
· I don't think so. For some reason, Michigan doesn't get a ton of preseason respect.
· Probably
Thoughts on Kareem Walker? I’m losing confidence he’ll ever play at Michigan in a meaningful way
· You're not the only one who feels that way.
Roll call: is this the year to expect a B1G title with the good health caveat? I say yes
· Again .... yes. Even with the schedule.
Any movement on getting down to 85 scholarships?
· You'll know soon enough. No real surprises, IMO.
· Some moves are coming soon.
Who leads WRs in receiving Black or DPJ?
Who leads TEs in receiving Gentry or McKeon?
· Black. And Gentry, but very close.
· Black/Gentry
I don't remember where I heard but I though Nunez was prepping this year.
· No. He prepped last year.
Will Barnhart, Jones, and Thomas get a rivals 4th star this year? If so, who if any, have a chance to sneak into the top 250?
· I think all four should be four stars already so I'll say that they will pick it up at some point. In terms of where they'd rank, that's a bit tougher because it involves other people moving as well.
· I'd guess at least one will, probably two
What legs do you give the posts about the inconsistent contact between this staff and recruits? Is it poor execution or lack of interest in a recruit? Or other.
· Lack of interest.
Who will be Gary's backup?
· Kwity Paye
**********
Next commit predictions for football & basketball?
· I'm going with Joe Girard III for hoops.
· DJ Turner has a commitment date set for June 25th, and could be the next to fall. June 22nd is Michigan's big official visit weekend, so that could produce some good things.
If football is coming off of a subpar season but expecting a strong year this year, does it make any sense not to necessarily accept too many commitments at this stage prior to proving it on the field?
· I think they take anybody they really want whenever they can get them.
1 - are there any legimate competitors for the starting safety spots after Tyree K and Josh M?
2 - what roles do you see for McDoom and Crawford this year? I didn’t hear Crawford’s name ONCE from McE or Roundtree in all their interviews and McDoom only maybe once. Maybe that’s a function of the questions being asked, but I don’t know.
3 - after Iggy (my speculation) which B.B. freshman gets the most minutes next year? DDJ or Johns?
I think Tyree and Josh have those spots about all locked up. I think the sophs have passed up the juniors, and I'd be surprised if there were a big role for Kekoa, especially. And I'm going with Johns, but not by a lot. I think Nunez is the only one who redshirts.
1. Absolutely. Casey Hughes, the transfer from Utah. J'Marick Woods could give those guys a run for their money too.
2. Honestly, I'm not expecting much from either one. DPJ, Black, Collins and Perry will be 'the guys' at the position, and McDoom and Crawford will likely be behind all of them.
3. This is a tough one. DeJulius, barely edging out Johns.
1. Casey Hughes and maybe JKP or Woods, but I'd expect Kinnel and Metellus to start
2. None for either
3. Johns
2. the way Harbaugh talked about Oliver Martin's spring, I wouldn't be shocked if he pushes Perry at slot.
- Good call, I forgot about him. The talent at wide receiver is unbelievable.
- I'd say the potential is unbelievable. The talent is still unproven ... but you're right to be optimistic.
Personally, i think there's usually "legit" contenders. I think someone like Case Hughes is a "legit" contender, but in the end word from the coaches tells me at this point that Kinnel and Metellus are definitely the two favorites. They haven't said that explicitly, but i'm reading between the lines.
Softball questions: 1. Do you expect better hitting next year and why? 2. Will Michigan find a #2 pitcher to complement Beaubien?
· I really don't know. I'm sure they'll try, but I really don't know.
Is Michigan going to Win the Big 10 East this season?
· I think they'll be really, really good, but my gut still tells me no. It's so hard not to pick Ohio State.
· Yes.
· I'm going with Michigan. It's time.
· If they beat OSU they will
Which recruit is the best prospect to be a Heisman Trophy contender?
· In the '19 class? Cade McNamara.
knowing that shea is a great talent, how effective do you see him in our offense? ole miss offense is super qb friendly. similar to texas tech, a&m, baylor etc..
· They'll tailor the offense to his strengths. He was really coming on at the end of spring. They're not going to go all run and shoot, but they'll put him in positions in which he can excel.
· I think he'll be completely fine, but I urge all fans to watch his play on youtube. You can find every snap there, and it's not as glamorous as his highlights (obviously). But what I'm saying is his highlights definitely hide a great deal of flaws he had last season. I don't think our offense will be any more of an issue than at OM though.
· Michigan will need to simplify
do you see james hudson surpassing JBB at left tackle?
· My prediction would be no, but it's certainly a possibility.
· I think it's very possible ... eventually. Will he by the first game? I don't know. That position is such a wildcard at this point.
· Tackle might just be the biggest question mark on the whole team — my gut is telling me JBB and Runyan could wind up being the starters.
· Personally, my gut says he's on the bench week 1. JBB and Runyan are starting at the tackles spots as of today. I personally feel like U-M will be comfortable starting the season with those older guys, that they believe are solid.
· Not for the season opener, but maybe during the season
What does Michigan have to do between now and September to prepare for the opener in South Bend? What are a couple of keys to a victory?
· Strengthen the left tackle position somehow ... lots of technique work, etc.
· No turnovers. Run the ball enough to keep ND's defense honest. Don't let the quarterback escape on passing downs.
· Make sure the O-line is as good as it can get
is there any reasonable chance that jalen mayfield comes in and competes for starting tackle spot?
· Not in my opinion. But I think he'll be a good one, in time.
Gil, ross, or singleton at the open linebacker spot??
· Last word from Don Brown was that Josh Ross and Devin Gil were competing to replace Mike McCray. I think many, including myself, believe that Ross may win the job. But that, in my opinion, doesn't mean that Gil won't see any snaps.
· I'm really thinking Ross.
· I think Ross gets the nod to start.
· Ross
Who are our future Vipers? Worried if Hudson leaves after this year.
· I think Hudson will be gone ..... and I could see Brad Hawkins potentially moving back down there. If Lance Dixon commits, he'll be another strong possibility.
When should we hear Charles Matthews' decision?
· He has a few more workouts yet. He's been banged up. It won't be long ... we think he comes back.
· Before may 30th
Any word on Don Brown mixing in a bit of zone to keep offenses off balance?
· With a veteran D backfield, even 5-10% would keep offenses honest and probably force a few turnovers.
· He wouldn't give specifics in Paris, but Brown said "there are a lot of things you can do to give those guys some help" ... I would think some zone would be among the options, but he is never going to abandon his philosophy ... to pressure and force quarterbacks to make plays while uncomfortable.
Do you see Michigan getting Carton and Wilson?
· No. I think they could land Carton, but some talk like it's a slam dunk ... I don't think it is. He'd be a great get.
· Wilson, the longer it goes, the less I like their chances.
· I think they have a strong shot with Carton ..... not as much with Wilson.
· Probably one or the other
Do you think this will be our best running attack we have seen in several years?
· Since Denard, yes.
· Definitely. Higdon, combined with out interior OL could be very good. Tackles should be improved as well, we'll see.
· Probably. Sadly, that's not saying much though.
· Yes
How are the new offensive staff (McElwain/Warriner/Moore) jelling with the Harbaugh/Hamilton group?
· Very well. That's a really tight staff. You could see it in Paris.
· So far so good
I love Brown’s defense. But that one wrinkle could really catapult the defense to elite. The good OCs and QBs were able to find the weak link in coverage (Kinnel vs OSU and psu) and exploit it.
5-10 percent could make all of the difference, especially with his blitz packages.
· I'll be honest ... I'm not sure he shares that opinion. And the numbers would suggest they were already pretty close to elite.
But I expect this defense to be lights out, and I trust that he'll do what he feels what's best ... not what he believes a segment of the fan base believes is popular. The 'play more zone' narrative has taken on a life of its own, and I'm not sure where it started (and I'm not coming down on you at all. But when I asked him that question in Tampa during practice, he said, "I don't care" (what people think).
Who do you see as the starting 5 next year in hoops?
· Zavier Simpson, Jordan Poole, Charles Matthews, Isaiah Livers and Jon Teske, to start.
But I think Iggy could be in the starting lineup midway through the year. He could play 2, 3 or 4.
Livers needs to step it up ... and I love the kid and think he can.
· Not out of the question that Poole would leave if he had a huge year. They know they have to be prepared for all possibilities.
· Simpson, Poole, Matthews, Livers, Teske
Do they finally get an elite RB commit? What happened to Jay becoming the next great recruiter?
· Some people would argue that Christian Turner can be that guy. Not denying his rankings, but some are very high on him. I'm one of them. And as for going forward, the answer is... win. Winning does the recruiting itself. Need to win first.
Will we see more rotation on the DL? As good as Gary and Winovich are, they’d be more effective if they were fresh. Paye, Vilain, and others have experience now.
· Vilain doesn't really have experience, as he was hurt last season and got hurt again this spring. but yes Mattison did suggest that they feel comfortable rotating a plethora of guys again this coming season. Interior should be at least 4 deep by all accounts too.
· Yes. Kwity is showing he's more than just a third down option, for one.
· Paye will get rotated in
Will Michigan beat ND?
· Yes. By eight.
· Yes... No doubt at all. None.
· Yes
If Matthews comes back as expected, are they favored to win the B1G?
· They'll be right there. Maryland could be a popular pick (if Fernando and Huerter come back), and MSU will be right there as well.
· I don't think so. For some reason, Michigan doesn't get a ton of preseason respect.
· Probably
Thoughts on Kareem Walker? I’m losing confidence he’ll ever play at Michigan in a meaningful way
· You're not the only one who feels that way.
Roll call: is this the year to expect a B1G title with the good health caveat? I say yes
· Again .... yes. Even with the schedule.
Any movement on getting down to 85 scholarships?
· You'll know soon enough. No real surprises, IMO.
· Some moves are coming soon.
Who leads WRs in receiving Black or DPJ?
Who leads TEs in receiving Gentry or McKeon?
· Black. And Gentry, but very close.
· Black/Gentry
I don't remember where I heard but I though Nunez was prepping this year.
· No. He prepped last year.
Will Barnhart, Jones, and Thomas get a rivals 4th star this year? If so, who if any, have a chance to sneak into the top 250?
· I think all four should be four stars already so I'll say that they will pick it up at some point. In terms of where they'd rank, that's a bit tougher because it involves other people moving as well.
· I'd guess at least one will, probably two
What legs do you give the posts about the inconsistent contact between this staff and recruits? Is it poor execution or lack of interest in a recruit? Or other.
· Lack of interest.
Who will be Gary's backup?
· Kwity Paye
